10 Best Drugstore Makeup Brushes

When it comes to makeup brushes, you really don’t need anything high end. Not to say that I don’t lust over the Marc Jacobs Bronzer Brush (come on…that thing just looks like luxury), but the drugstore really does get the job done beautifully. Since all of my brushes just got a much needed deep clean, I figured this was a great time to line them up for some headshots and update you on my current favorite brushes:

ecotools Define & Highlight Duo ($11.99): I love using the fan brush for my contour because it is easy for me to get a very straight line and then quickly diffuse it out. I use the rounded brush for my blush and absolutely love the way I can blend the blush out beautifully.

Real Techniques Setting Brush ($7.99): I have two of these brushes and use one every day. I like it for both setting my under eye as well as highlighting.

e.l.f. Small Tapered Brush ($3): This is an extremely versatile brush, I’ve used it as a contour brush, setting brush, highlighting brush and a touch-up powder brush.

e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush ($6): If you use powder foundation, you need this brush. This powder brush buffs in setting powder or foundation seamlessly and is so stinkin’ soft. If I go overboard on bronzer, this is also a great fix to soften the color and blend away.

ecotools Flat Eyeliner Brush (varies): I just saw this brush in store at Ulta last week, but I’m struggling to track down a link. Real Techniques has a great angled eyeliner brush, which is another great option. I like an eyeliner brush for my brows as well as my eyeliner since I normally used shadow as my eyeliner.

e.l.f. Flawless Concealer Brush ($3): This is a great concealer brush for powders, creams and liquids. It’s held up surprisingly well considering it’s only a few dollars and I’ve really put this thing through the ringer.

e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Smudge Brush ($5): If you like to smoke out your lower lashline, you need a brush that can not only place the color, but also blend it out. This brush does just that without scratching your eyes.

L.A.B.2 Just Blending In Brush ($10, varies): So many great eyeshadow blending brushes are high end, but this one is magic at the drugstore. You can find L.A.B.2 on Amazon or at Walmart.

Real Techniques Eye Duo ($8.99): This brush is now sold in a set, but I love it so much because it’s a great brush for both cream eyeshadows and liquid eyeshadows. It also does a great job of really packing on your lid color for maximum impact.

TIPS: ecotools and Real Techniques go on sale at Ulta BOGO 1/2 off pretty frequently, so definitely stock up then!